Time for a COMPLETE-FULL-SCALE Democratic Filibuster! SHUT CONGRESS DOWN!

[Flying_Pig]

It's WAY past time for the Democrats to mount a full-scale filibuster on critical issues facing this nation, and to not relent until all of their demands are met. Shut the godamn Congress down, NOW!, before the Bush regime can do any more damage to this nation! It is our only hope! Write or call your Dem congressperson now, and demand full-scale filibusters on the following issues:

1. Release to the public of all of the 9/11 investigation findings and materials.

2. Release of all of the meeting notes and records from Cheney's energy group meetings.

3. Release of any and all documents pertaining to the phony intelligence used by the administration to justify their invasion of Iraq, including NSC and CIA documents.

4. To immediately pull the Iraq contacts of Halliburton and Bechtel, and mount a full review on the awarding of those contracts.

5. To call for a full scale investigation on the influence of PNAC and Likud neocon supporters on our nations foreign policy, and their relationships with this administration.

6. To repeal all of the tax cuts.

7. To deny Bush's recent request for $87 billion in Iraq funding, until a full accounting can be done of expenditures thus far made, and until the tax cuts are rescinded. In addition, a demand should be made for the Pentagon to account for the THREE TRILLION DOLLARS missing from their accounts, and to insist that the Pentagon will be given no further funding until those monies can be accounted for, and the results made public!

8. To demand immediate reinstitution of the "Fairness Doctrine", by executive order.

9. To immediately the repeal Patriot Act, on the grounds that it is unconstitutional, and that it has been abused by the Justice Department.

10. To demand a full-scale independent investigation into the relationship between the Bush administration, and Enron, to include the public release of any and all information on Ken Lay's ties to Mr. Bush, and all pending actions being considered by the Justice Department.

The way I see it, if the congressional Democrats really are as appalled as they say about the terrible and illegal things this administration has done, and is about to do, there is only one way to shut them down: full-scale filibuster. Not only would it call dramatic attention into the dirty deeds this administration has done, it draws a line in the sand, and stops Democrats from being accomplices in the destruction of this nation. The amount of damage that can be done between now, and the election, could be enormous. Why take the chance? Let's stop them now!!

[PBinOregon]

1. I Like It

Those are ten great demands, and I would love to hear our elected officials make them over and over and over and over. The GOP is trying to make our anger a major issue. Well, we are angry. We are, in fact, mad as hell, and we're not going to take it anymore...

[Flying_Pig]

2. I've given this a lot of thought, and it's such a...

beautifully simple idea. By even being in a Congress where they are participating in rubber-stamping the dirty deeds of this fascist administration, the Dems are accomplices, even if they vote against the administration. Using a parlimentary proceedure like full-scale filibuster, is really the only tool they have to NOT participate.

More importantly, is that it would serve to advertise the crimes of this administration, and serve as a way for the Dems to say, "not one step more, not one dollar more, until we get an accounting, and our questions answered". The damned Republicans are running things like a dictatorship now, and we have to battle them any way we can. Well, here's a way. Question is, would the pink-tutus in this Congress have enough cajones to do something like this, and if not, why not, if the country is so damned important to them?

[Eloriel]

3. Yes, it is beautifully simple

But it would take guts.

And you know how rare that is in Washington.

Sigh.

Eloriel

[Flying_Pig]

7. Thanks El. SO simple, I am wondering why no one has done it.

Dozens of people in Congress lamenting the crimes of this mis-adminsitration, and it seems only one old man, Robert Byrd, has any guts. How else can we shut them down, and stop them before they commit some other terrible crime (another 9/11??), or invade another country, and get our asses blown all to hell, or drive our economy into a full-scale depression? This is the only way I can see to stop them now, short of "storming the Bastile".

[caledesi]

60. I LOVE this idea.

[Flying_Pig]

4. Hey folks! Any comments on this idea???

Seriuos times, require serious measures, and I can't think of a better way to capture the attention of the nation, this mis-administration, and the media, than the ideas I've put forth here. Anyone got a better idea on how to stop them in their tracks?

:kick:

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

6. I think the Flying Pig says it all.

Good idea, though.

[Flying_Pig]

9. Humor is always appreciated, but damn, I am serious!!

:grr:

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

43. I'm serious, too.

I think pigs will fly before this ever happpens, although I wish it would. No offense meant.

[Q]

25. "I am wondering why no one has done it. "

- The answer as to why they haven't done it is as simple as the plan to shut down congress. The leadership and Dem congress has simply given up. They've become nothing more than furniture that Bush* moves around to suit his agenda.

- The Democratic faithful can't quite admit it yet...but both parties have sold us out. They can't quite explain why nothing has been done about election fraud or lack of real investigations into Enron, Halliburtion, Harken, war profiteering, 9-11 or illegal invasions. (just the tip of the iceberg).

- Part of the problem is that our 'leadership' has been usurped by right-leaning Dems who have done everything they can to push for war and legislate the end of civil liberties in America.

[Flying_Pig]

32. You appear to have the jist of it "Q"...

Sad but, ...true.

[RapidCreek]

36. I've been saying this for 2.5 years!!!

I couldn't agree with you more....Unfortunately most of them are afraid someone might call them a nasty name...you know, like obstructionist. Where a good politician would say..."yep your damn right I am an obstructionist, I have every intention of obstructing the destruction of our government and country, I have every intention of obstructing your thievery, I have every intention of obstructing your use of our state funded military as mercenaries by corporations, particularly those who feel they are above paying taxes" the ones we are graced with at present ARE as you say...complicit. That much is quite plane to see. There is an intentional organized coup afoot and anyone with a pea sized brain recognizes that simple fact. By ignoring it, and pretending that it isn't happening...it is being allowed to role along unchecked. It reminds me of a man with Gonorrhea who ignores the puss running out his penis because he is afraid of going to the doctor and fessing up that he has put it in some nasty places.

RC

[Flying_Pig]

44. Well, you're right Rapid ...."Obstructionist" should be worn....

as a badge of honor. You know, it really is WAY, WAY, past time, for the Dems to either stand up and fight these bastards, with any tools available to them, including filibuster, or come out and admit that they are complicit. As far as I am concerned, every day they let go by, is another day this country is being runied. It is their patriotic duty to fight these fascists, tooth and nail.

So what's it going to be? Obstructionism, or complicity? Right now, given the number of pink-tutus, I would say that there are an awful lot of Democrats who are joined at the hip with these bastards. I am taking names, and god help them when we finally remove this regime!

[Cocoa]

5. things are starting to look good for the dems in Congress

that might have been a strategy if things were hopeless, but now they're at their best position so far.

this thread below is about a NYT aritcle about how the momentum is shifting:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=112074

[Flying_Pig]

10. The scary part is though, given the horrible things they've..

already done, and are capable of doing, as long as they remain in power, can we make it until the election, and what's to prevent them from doing something REALLY terrible, as Paul Krugman alluded to yesterday in his article?

[Tinoire]

11. Of course things are looking good! What with action like this:

With decisive principled ACTION like this, how could it be otherwise?!

[Flying_Pig]

17. This makes me sick Tiniore, physically ill....

Go to that thread and see my comments. Well, if we can't get the pink-tutus to filibuster, then I guess it's up to the people to shut the damned place down!
:grr:

[RapidCreek]

40. Momentum is fine.....

The problem is, that those responsible of engineering the coup will be allowed to walk away.....and that is NOT acceptable. They must be uncovered, publically. The country must know what they are doing, why they are doing it, who is behind it and who is benifiting from it. It is one thing to recognize that you have Gohnorrhea...that is only a third of the solution....to other critical isseus must be addressed, however. You must have it treated...and you must make clear who infected you with it. Without the later two....you'll eventually die....and/or get reinfected. Even if you don't the perpetrator of your infection can infect someone else. Not only must the presence of the sickness be confirmed...the bacteria must be eradicated and the behaviors which led to your infection must be identified and stopped.

RC

[Flying_Pig]

51. I agree with this 100% RC. After a Dem prez is installed,...

we need to have tribunals, and perhaps Nuremburg type trials. These people are traitors to this nation, and if I had my way, they would all be lined up against a wall, ...and NOT be given a last cigarette!!

The only way we can insure they never come back to power, is to completely destroy them, by shining light on their rat asses!

[msmcghee]

59. Of course the pukes will moderate their destruction of America . .

. . briefly while they all jump back on the "compassionate conservative" circus wagon - with black minstrels waiting to perform at the NYC convention a few blocks from ground zero.

Harry Reid is stupid if he thinks the pukes have changed their agenda one bit. The only thing that's shifted is their rhetoric . . i.e. what they have to say between now and the election in order to get re-elected.

Flying-pig is right. It just took someone like him to put it down where we can all see it.

[Flying_Pig]

72. Did Harry Reid actually say, "they've changed their agenda?"

just curious. I've known Harry a long time, and though he's a mild mannered fellow, he's a former boxer who can swing when needed. Surely he doesn't think the Repugs are having a change of heart? Tell me more...

[StandWatie]

8. probably a bad idea..

When the "Gingrich Revolution" tried it Americans hated them for it.

[Flying_Pig]

12. Yeah, but it's a differnet time, and we aretalking about major...

crimes against humanity here. Murder, war(s), economic destruction. I can't see how the American public would be resentful of having this stopped, especially if they are allowed to finally see all of the evidence. How could they be anything but thankful, that someone (the Democrats?) stood up, and finally exposed and fought these bastards? I fail to see how they could resent it.

[Cocoa]

15. if the vote is about murder

then yes I say filibuster the murder vote.

But if it's about something like prescription drugs, then the conventional politics is the way to go, and it's currently working in our favor.

[salin]

13. AND NO Action on Chewney's Energy Bill

until all documents related to his panel are released, until a full investigation into the Eastern SeaBoard Blackout is conducted, until the full economic damage of the California marketmanipulation enduced energy crisis is assessed; and until a full accounting of the COSTS is given (it gives BILLIONS away in tax incentives and gifts to big energy) along with an explanation of what revenues pay it.

Btw, did you see that all democrats are being locked out of crafting the energy conference committee compromise bill?

[Flying_Pig]

18. You want to get sick Salin, see post #11 here....

:puke:

[goobergunch]

22. I agree with that.

H.R. 6 should be stopped cold.

[Tinoire]

14. I'm totally behind you! And whether you want to vote for this mand or not

We should ALL be giving him full support for what he's doing!

6/3/2003
KUCINICH DEMANDS RELEASE OF INTELLIGENCE THAT LED TO WAR

Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich, leader of the opposition to the Iraq war in the U.S. House, is announcing at a noon news conference on Wednesday that he will use a Resolution of Inquiry to demand the release of the intelligence that led to the war in Iraq, and to Administration claims that Iraq had tons of biological and chemical weapons, delivery systems, and a 'reconstituted' nuclear program.

"This Administration led this nation into war based on lies," said Kucinich. "I think that this Congress, and the American people, have a right to know what information this Administration had, and how they justify their public comments. Now is the time for truth-telling."

A Resolution of Inquiry is a rarely used House procedure that Kucinich used successfully in March to get the Administration to release the 12,000 page weapons report that Iraq had submitted to the UN.


6/11/2003
"Mr. President, Where Was the Imminent Threat?"

Congressman Kucinich again took to the House floor today to question the White House on Iraq:

"Over the past year, the Bush Administration has made specific and unequivocal statements about the imminent threat posed by Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction -- repeatedly claiming they had intelligence showing Iraq had 25,000 liters of anthrax, 38,000 liters of botulinum toxin, 500 tons of sarin, mustard and VX nerve agent, and over 30,000 munitions capable of delivering chemical agents. So where are those vast stockpiles? Where was the imminent threat?

"At the State of the Union Address, the President said: '...Hussein had the materials to produce as much as 500 tons of sarin, mustard and VX nerve agent.' Where are those vast stockpiles? Where was the imminent threat?

"Did this Administration deliberately mislead this nation into war telling us that there was imminent threat, when there was not?

"The resolution of inquiry now signed by 36 Members of Congress aims to find out the truth."

((My note: Joining Kucinich on the Resolution are Reps. S. Brown, J. Carson, Conyers, Cummings, Farr, Frank, Grijalva, Hinchey, Honda, Jackson-Lee, Jackson Jr., Tubbs Jones, Kaptur, Lee, J. Lewis, Maloney, McDermott, George Miller, Nadler, Owens, Rahall, Schakowsky, Serrano, Scott, Stark, Van Hollen, Waters, Watson, and Woosley) FIRE THE REST)


6/12/2003
Kucinich: White House Manipulated 2002 Election

Congressman Dennis Kucinich, leader of antiwar opposition in the House, continued to challenge the Bush Administration on the lead-up to war in Iraq, issuing a statement today:

"Last October, this Congress voted to give the President the authority to use force against Iraq to thwart an imminent threat from Iraq's weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

"The Administration urged action against an imminent threat. So Congress voted, only weeks before the 2002 election. Some Democrats voted for it thinking there would be an opportunity to refocus on domestic issues. Instead national security and Iraq's so-called imminent threat became the divisive issue in the election. The question became: who was patriotic and who wasn't.

"The Administration capitalized on the fears of Americans. They misrepresented the nature of the Iraqi threat. They misled Congress. They misled the American people. By pushing for a quick vote before the election, they changed the election and manipulated the outcome.

"The Resolution of Inquiry will establish the truth once and for all."

Kucinich's Resolution of Inquiry in the House to force the Administration to turn over intelligence to back its claims on Iraq's WMDs, is now signed by 36 Congress members. As a privileged resolution, it must be voted on in Committee within 11 legislative days.


5/26/2003
Kucinich Challenges Bush Rhetoric on Iran

Dennis J. Kucinich continued his antiwar leadership in Congress by challenging the Bush administration on its dangerous stance toward Iran. As ranking Democrat on the Government Reform Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations, Kucinich issued the following statement:

"The rhetoric and posturing by this Administration over Iran serves only to validate impressions in the region that the United States is empire building. It is disturbing that as our nation is just beginning to learn that it was misled in the build-up to war in Iraq, that this Administration is seeking to continue its dangerous policy in the region with an aggressive posture towards Iran... Now more than ever, it is critical that the United States work with our friends and allies in the Middle East to root out terrorists cells and implement a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."


04/14/2003
"Kucinich Calls Administration's Rhetoric Towards Syria 'Reckless and Dangerous'

The Administrations rhetoric this weekend towards Syria is reckless and dangerous, and could further hurt the United States’ standing in the region and the world, Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH) stated today.

Kucinich, Ranking Member of the House Government Reform Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations, today issued the following statement:

“The rhetoric out of the Administration this weekend towards Syria is reckless and dangerous. Such threats only serve to further destabilize the region, fuel anti-American sentiment and isolate the United States from the international community.

“It appears that the Administration using the same rhetoric and political posturing that led to the unjustified war against Iraq. Our nation cannot afford this dangerous and aggressive foreign policy. On the heels of war with Iraq, the Administration’s posturing appears to be putting the United States on a path to war with Syria.

“Threatening action against Syria could help fuel speculation that the Administration is seeking to build an empire in the Middle East. Now more than ever the United States needs to work with the international community to repair damaged relations and to rebuilding of Iraq. The rhetoric out of this Administration is counterproductive towards this goal.

“With such threats, the Administration is taking our nation down a dangerous path. If the Administration continues with this rhetoric the United States risks more violence in the Middle East region, further isolation from the international community, and the continued sacrifice of our pressing domestic needs.


5/21/2003
Kucinich on the House Floor: "A War Based on Pretext"

During consideration of a Defense Authorization bill, Congressman Dennis Kucinich -- leader of anti-war opposition on Capitol Hill -- took to the House floor to again challenge the Bush Administration's deceptions on Iraq:

"This Administration led this nation into a war based on a pretext that Iraq was an imminent threat, which it was not. The Secretary of State presented pictures to the world he said were proof. Today, despite having total control in Iraq, none of the very serious claims that the Administration made to this Congress, to this nation, and to the world have been substantiated.

"Where are the weapons of mass destruction? Indeed, what was the basis for the war? We spend $400 billion for defense. Will we spend a minute to defend truth? The American people gave up their health care, education and veterans benefits to pay for this war. And for what? Answer the questions, Mr. President."


5/09/2003
Kucinich: Is the Administration Proving it is About Oil?

In the wake of news that the Bush administration is proposing a U.N. resolution "granting the United States broad control over Iraq's oil industry and revenue"(Washington Post, May 9), presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich -- ranking Democrat on the House Government Reform subcommittee on national security -- issued the following statement:

"Today's news once again raises questions about the Administration's true intentions in Iraq. For months the Administration has said the war was not about oil, but its actions tell a different story.

"If Iraqi oil is for the Iraqi people, the United Nations should manage the oil profits until a credible Iraqi government is installed. The United States should not control the Iraqi people or their resources, nor should the U.S. dictate where their resources go.

"This move by the Administration to manage Iraq's oil revenue will undermine the US's ability to reconstruct Iraq and further harm the United States's credibility in the world community."


04/01/2003
Kucinich Takes to The House Floor To Call For An End to The War

Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH), who leads opposition to the War in Iraq within the House, issued the following statement on the House floor:

"Stop the war now. As Baghdad will be encircled, this is the time to get the UN back in to inspect Baghdad and the rest of Iraq for biological and chemical weapons. Our troops should not have to be the ones who will find out, in combat, whether Iraq has such weapons. Why put our troops at greater risk? We could get the United Nations inspectors back in.

"Stop the war now. Before we send our troops into house-to-house combat in Baghdad, a city of five million people. Before we ask our troops to take up the burden of shooting innocent civilians in the fog of war.

"Stop the war now. This war has been advanced on lie upon lie. Iraq was not responsible for 9/11. Iraq was not responsible for any role al-Qaeda may have had in 9/11. Iraq was not responsible for the anthrax attacks on this country. Iraq did not try to acquire nuclear weapons technology from Niger. This war is built on falsehood.

"Stop the war now. We are not defending America in Iraq. Iraq did not attack this nation. Iraq has no ability to attack this nation. Each innocent civilian casualty represents a threat to America for years to come and will end up making our nation less safe. The seventy-five billion dollar supplemental needs to be challenged because each dime we spend on this war makes America less safe. Only international cooperation will help us meet the challenge of terrorism. After 9/11 all Americans remember we had the support and the sympathy of the world. Every nation was ready to be of assistance to the United States in meeting the challenge of terrorism. And yet, with this war, we have squandered the sympathy of the world. We have brought upon this nation the anger of the world. We need the cooperation of the world, to find the terrorists before they come to our shores.

"Stop this war now. Seventy-five billion dollars more for war. Three-quarters of a trillion dollars for tax cuts, but no money for veterans ' benefits. Money for war. No money for health care in America, but money for war. No money for social security, but money for war. We have money to blow up bridges over the Tigris and the Euphrates, but no money to build bridges in our own cities. We have money to ruin the health of the Iraqi children, but no money to repair the health of our own children and our educational programs.

"Stop this war now. It is wrong. It is illegal. It is unjust and it will come to no good for this country.

"Stop this war now. Show our wisdom and our humanity, to be able to stop it, to bring back the United Nations into the process. Rescue this moment. Rescue this nation from a war that is wrong, that is unjust, that is immoral.

"Stop this war now".

03/31/2003
Kucinich: President Continues to Mislead The Country About the War

Today, Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH), who leads opposition in the House to the war in Iraq, issued the following statement:

"Today, President Bush said the following to Coast Guard personnel: Our victory will remove a sponsor of terror, armed with weapons of terror. Our victory will uphold the just demands of the United Nations and the civilized world."

"This statement is another example of rhetoric that the Administration is using to mislead the public in the war against Iraq. Iraq has not been proven to have weapons of mass destruction, by either the United Nations or the United States. Further, this statement falsely implies that the United Nations and 'the civilized world' sanctioned war in Iraq. It also incorrectly implies that the United Nations sanctioned regime change and the removal of Saddam Hussein."

"This Administration has consistently misled the public on the cost of war, the cause for war, the facts of war, and the support for war. It is time to end this war immediately and bring the troops home."

03/27/2003
This War is Wrong and Must End!

Today, at a press conference on Capitol Hill, Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH), who leads opposition to the war in Iraq, issued the following statement:
"This Administration has never made its case for war against Iraq. It is an unjustified war, which the Administration continues to misrepresent and exaggerate. The most recent example is the Administration's characterization of international coalition support for this war."

"This morning, President Bush once again exaggerated the extent of support for the war stating that the coalition of countries supporting this war is larger than the 1991 Gulf War. What Bush failed to mention was that back in 1991, all of the 34 coalition members offered military force, by contributing troops on the ground, aircraft, ships or medics. "

"This war involves the troops of only the U.S., Britain, Australia, Poland and Albania. Not even the three members of the Security Council that support the war, Spain, Italy, and Bulgaria are committing military support."

"This Bush Administration has been adding coalition member to their list based on statements of “moral” support. As the Washington Post reported last week, if this type of criteria was used back in 1991, the size of the coalition would likely have topped 100 countries."

"Further, the total cost of the Gulf War to the United States was around $4 billion dollars. This time, the President has come to Congress requesting a $75 billion bill, all of which will be paid by U. S. taxpayers. Clearly, military and economic support from countries is far more important than statements of 'well-wishes'."

"This war must end now. It was unjust when it started last week, and is still unjust today. The U.S. should get out now and try to save the lives of American troops and Iraqi citizens. Most importantly, ending the war now and resuming weapons inspections could salvage world opinion of the United States, which has been deteriorating since the talk of war began. After all, the greatest threat to the United States at this time is terrorism, which is breeding from this war."

03/19/2003
Congressman Kucinich issued the following statement upon the American attack against Iraq:
"This is a sad day for America, the world community, and the people of Iraq. Tonight, I hope and pray for the safe return of our troops and the end to this unjustified war."
"President Bush has launched an unprovoked attack against another country. Iraq does not pose an imminent threat to the United States or any of its neighboring nations. Iraq was not responsible for the terrorist attacks of September 11. Tonight, President Bush has commanded U.S. forces to go to war in violation of American traditions of defensive war that have lasted since George Washington. This war is wrong; it violates the Constitution and international law."

9/7/2003
Kucinich Answers President Bush

Congressman Kucinich issued this statement in response to Bush's televised address from the White House: "Rather than acknowledging the failures of his policies, and the fact that Iraq had nothing to do with September 11, and that there were no weapons of mass destruction, the President this evening attempted to compound his blunders by deepening America's involvement in Iraq.

"He seems to forget that he attempted to drag the entire world into this using claims that had no basis in fact -- the same world that he now has to go back to lacking credibility and having squandered the good will that was there two years ago.

"The Bush Administration's arrogant occupation of Iraq has harmed the United States' position in the world community, caused the deaths of 289 American soldiers at last count, and diverted tens of billions of dollars from domestic needs. Now the President is asking for another $87 billion.

"We must allow the UN to take over peacekeeping operations in the country. The UN must take over management, accounting, and distribution to the Iraqi people of Iraq's oil profits. There must be no privatization of the Iraqi oil industry. The UN must handle the awarding of all contracts for the rebuilding of Iraq so that there can be no more sweetheart contracts for companies like Halliburton.

"The President has been unable to produce evidence that this war was fought over weapons of mass destruction. It is not too late for him to prove that it was not fought over oil. That can be done by returning control of the oil to the Iraqi people."


8/25/2003
U.N. Should Take Over Peace Keeping in Iraq

Congressman Kucinich issued the following statement on Iraq today:

"It is clear now that the United States is bogged down in an ongoing guerrilla war with almost daily casualties. The situation is one that the Administration did not plan for and is not adequately prepared to handle.

"Assertions by the President, and his Administration, that the war is over and that our mission was accomplished, like their claims about Iraq's 'vast stockpiles' of WMD's, are false and misleading. While this Administration was quick to send troops into harm's way, it has no exit strategy for removing US troops from the country.

"Negotiations for an exit must begin now. The UN must take over management, accounting and distribution to the Iraqi people of Iraq's oil profits. There must be no privatization of the Iraqi oil industry. The UN must handle the awarding of all contracts for the rebuilding of Iraq so that there can be no more sweetheart contracts for companies like Halliburton. Additionally, a transition from UN control to self-determined governing structure by and for the Iraqi people must be planned.

"It was wrong to go into Iraq. It is wrong to stay in Iraq. Let's support our troops by bringing them home."

7/28/2003
Kucinich Calls for U.N. to Replace U.S. In Iraq
In statements from his Congressional office and on the campaign trail, Kucinich continued today to advocate that U.N. peacekeeping forces replace U.S. troops in Iraq. His stance is in stark contrast to other Democratic candidates; Howard Dean, for example, supports sending additional U.S. troops to Iraq (Meet the Press, 6/22).

Kucinich said today: "This weekend, with the deaths of 5 US troops, we were once again reminded of the dangers facing US troops in what has become a quagmire. To date 243 U.S. troops have died in Iraq. It is time that the United States begins the process of withdrawing our troops, and allow a UN peacekeeping force to take over the reconstruction of Iraq.

"In their rush to war, the Administration failed to adequately prepare for the post-invasion period. Negotiations for an exit must begin now. An exit agreement with the United Nations must involve the US letting go of the contracting process.

"The UN must also take over management, accounting and distribution to the Iraqi people of Iraq's oil profits. Additionally, a transition from UN control to self- determined governing structure by and for the Iraqi people must be planned. Finally, the Administration, which unwisely ordered the bombing, must fund the reconstruction."

7/9/2003
Kucinich: Bush White House Manipulated Congress
Dennis Kucinich, leading opponent of Iraq war in the House, took to the floor again today to speak out against White House deception in the pre-war period, and to demand public hearings.

"More attention needs to be paid to false and misleading statements that preceded the vote on the Iraq Resolution in this House. Two days before the vote, on October 8, 2002, speaking in Cincinnati, the President spoke of his determination to attack Iraq: 'Facing clear evidence of peril, we cannot wait for the final proof - - the smoking gun - - that could come in the form of a mushroom cloud'.

"This chilling, apocalyptic statement was not based on clear evidence of peril, but was in fact based on falsehoods, hidden from public view by the office of the Vice President.

"Did the Vice President's office knowingly conceal information its own representative obtained that Iraq was in fact not attempting to purchase nuclear materials from Niger? Was the White House in possession of this same information prior to the President giving his shocking declaration in Cincinnati?

"There is no question that the President's statements we now know were false and misleading influenced the debate in this House and the decision to go to war. It is imperative we have open, public hearings to wash this stain from our national reputation."

More here: http://www.kucinich.us/statements.htm#060303

[Flying_Pig]

19. After reading the thread you pointed out in #11, it sounds like

Dennis and Byrd are, sadly, the only ones....

[Tinoire]

26. I've come to the same sad conclusion but add a few more

Joining Kucinich on the Resolution are Reps. S. Brown, J. Carson, Conyers, Cummings, Farr, Frank, Grijalva, Hinchey, Honda, Jackson-Lee, Jackson Jr., Tubbs Jones, Kaptur, Lee, J. Lewis, Maloney, McDermott, George Miller, Nadler, Owens, Rahall, Schakowsky, Serrano, Scott, Stark, Van Hollen, Waters, Watson, and Woosley.


Though, with the exception of Sheila Jackson Lee, who was the sole voice against Afghanistan, they're not all as strong as Byrd and Kucinich. Those are the three I pick...

What a sad, sad world... and yet we're told we MUST support those people because they placed a D after their name.

The real balance of power is the 2-Party system where we just swap out which foot the shoe is on and point fingers at each other every 4 years.

Franky, I don't know what to do about these people anymore! Peace and thanks for posting this... I get so caught up in campaign support that I barely have time to search for news anymore!

[MuseRider]

16. Well, I am with you.

It is a great idea but will enough of them do it? Right after the war started we still had a lot of people across the world thinking that it was the Bush* gang and not the people of this country that they could hate. Well, as long as this has gone on I see that trend changing. I can't site any particular instances but it is just a feeling I get reading articles. We can't save any good will from the world if we don't do something. I have been writing my people practically every day, they are Repubs and the only response I get is "I support the president". No response, no questions. I could send them a bag full of poop and they would send me the identical letter. This has to be done, we have to do something. You are right, it is only going to get worse as he gets closer to the elections. Also they should require a paper trail for voting. That is the one thing that scares me the most. What will happen if Bush* has approval ratings in the 30's and he wins? This country will explode.

[Flying_Pig]

20. And if it explodes, I say good! It's WAY overdue....

:grr:

[MuseRider]

24. I also agree with that

but I certainly don't want it to happen. If Bush* get reselected and we don't gain in the House or the Senate what can we do? I know what we can do but personally I do not want to see it happen. I like your idea. Maybe we should write and tell them just what we might see if they don't change into pants and do this thing?

[goobergunch]

21. I don't think there are 41 votes for a full-scale filibuster...

besides, if Senators wanted to do those things, there would have been/are small-scale ways to do them before mounting a full stoppage...it's better to start small and escalate then just jump into a giant stoppage.

2. AMENDMENT TO THE ENERGY/WATER APPROPRIATIONS BILL (H.R. 2754)

At the end, preceding the short title, add the following section:

Sec. ___. None of the funds made available in this Act shall be appropriated until all records created by the energy task force conducted by Vice President Richard Cheney are released.

4. AMENDMENT TO THE DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS BILL (H.R. 2658)

At the end, preceding the short title, add the following section:

Sec. ___. None of the funds appropriated in this Act may be awarded to Halliburton or Bechtel.

7. That bill should be filibustered.

9. AMENDMENT TO THE COMMERCE/JUSTICE/STATE APPROPRIATIONS BILL (H.R.

At the end, preceding the short title, add the following section:

Sec. ___. None of the funds appropriated in this Act may be used under the provisions of Public Law 107-56, the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT ACT) Act of 2001.

[Flying_Pig]

29. I disagree. Bold times, call for bold action, and small steps...

will get us just that, ...small steps. We've molly-coddled these bastards enough. We've "small stepped" ourselves right out of the White House. No, its time for giant steps, and bold moves. The danger this administration represents to this nation, and the world, calls for radical thinking, in an effort to stop them.

[MuseRider]

33. Actually I was thinking

about alternatives and you are right, small steps won't work. This is the only way to get these messages out to the masses. The press will not cover it or will make it sound "partisan" if we don't do it in an aggressive way. It will happen and pass out of view. If they do what you are talking about there will be little other news and the issues will automatically become the news, not so much the Dems, but the issues because people will be forced to look at it. I am liking your idea more. This has gone on too long for there to really be any other way. Normally I would not advocate this type of thing but this is not a normal situation. Go for it.

[Flying_Pig]

38. See post #37 for some ideas here....

The idea, would be for the Dems to filibuster EVERYTHING that came before them, no matter what. Shut the placedown, so no legislation moves, of any kind, and then use the floor time to demand accountability, and to add ammendments (from my list) to any legislation that coomes up. The only way it would work, is for the Dems to be unrelenting, and united. Any chance of that happening in our lifetime???
:hi:

[MuseRider]

45. Nope

sorry to say but I can't see it. I floated this by my husband and he replied, "look what that did for the Repubs." So I explained how different this was and he looked at me and agreed. BUT, I don't see these reps doing it. Some would but probably not enough. We should write to them, really. Do they know our fear? They must and they must feel it too so why is this or even anything not being done? Do they really think the vote will change things? Even if we would get a Dem pres if we don't get congress we will get nothing.

[goobergunch]

34. I'm talking about escalation

Try to get amendments passed first. Then if they fail, shut the Senate down...so it's hard for the Repukes to complain.

[Flying_Pig]

37. Yes, that would be one way to do it....

But, as the Repukes control both houses, I am not sure how legislation could be introduced, as they control the flow. I was thinking more of tackleing any kind of existing upcoming legislation, like Bush's request for the 87 billion, and using that as a platform to filibuster, and to perhaps get the other things talked about.

Additionally, there is nothing to stop any of the Democrats from obtaining floor time to discuss and or all of the issues I listed. The key (and the most difficult thing to obtain), would be solidarity among the Dems, to form a full-scale attack on everything the Repukes try to do. I guess what I am calling for, is full-scale rebellion by all of the Dems in both houses. Shut the damned place down, just like the Dems in Texas did for awhile. The media would have a hard time ignoring that!

[goobergunch]

39. What I'm thinking of is appropriations riders

to block funding unless such-and-such happens. Then use the amendments' rejection as a filibuster excuse.

And there are some bills that we just have to kill, like H.R. 6 (energy)...and I'm thinking the 87B "emergency" supplemental.

[Flying_Pig]

46. There you go. Great suggestion!

The Dems shouldn't give them one bill, not one vote, not one dollar, not one agreement, not one anything, until a list of demands (like those I outlined in the original post) are met.

[MuseRider]

48. A starting point

the 87 billion. I think the point should be made that they can have just what they need to provide support for the troops to do what needs done, peacekeeping and moving forward to install Iraqis who are chosen by Iraqis. The rest should be held until they can prove it isn't going directly into US (Halliburton) rebuilding. My goodness, the Iraqis had all this stuff running before, they managed to build before so why are we paying our guys to do this work? Put them back to work. Sorry, a brief rant to the choir. I think it would be a bad idea to not spend for those things, then we will just get more of the unpatriotic crap and that would become the main issue.

[Flying_Pig]

50. Yes, we would at least have to protect our soldiers..

but beyoned that, nothing, absolutely nothing, should be given this administration.

[MuseRider]

52. It never

should have been.

[goobergunch]

56. That can and should be taken care of in Defense Appropriations

if we block the supplemental, they'll HAVE to put it into Defense Approp.

[Procopius]

23. Sure let's not renew the assault weapons ban

Your idea is stupid and will endanger huge amounts of innocent Americans. If they fillibuster no action can be taken on the AWB. Larry Pratt will love this.

[Flying_Pig]

27. What planet did you pop in from???

I am talking about a hell of a lot more marbles than just the AWB! If this nation explodes, or is sunk into wars, or is thrust into a depression, I guarantee you, people will be a helluva lot more concerned about that, than the AWB! Gheez, where are YOUR priorities???

[Procopius]

28. If I get shot to death

it won't matter.

[Flying_Pig]

30. Ignore.....

n/t

[caledesi]

65. Hello? We are ALREADY endangered!

[Terwilliger]

31. YOWZA YOWZA YOWZA!!

:bounce: :hi: :smoke: :freak: :grr: :argh:

[Tinoire]

35. lol! Sounds like we have additional work to do! n/t

[gristy]

41. That is just a great list

Everything seems to be on it.

[Flying_Pig]

47. Thanks. But you know, I could have made this list...

a hundred times longer. The list of crimes these fascists have committed against this nation (and others), is so long, I am afraid my fingers would fall off if I tried to type them all out!
:evilgrin:

[Paragon]

42. Uh, no

Remember the government shutdown of the Newt Gingrich Congress? Congress simply doesn't possess the bully pulpit the Presidency does.

Of course we'd all like to see these changes made, but this is ridiculously pie-in-the-sky.

[Flying_Pig]

49. I disagree. It is "obtainable" pie. See my post #12 on this ...

thread for more. These are different times. We're not talking blow jobs, or Newt's Contract To Strangle America" here. I do not believe the public would react the same way to a Dem shutdown now, especially if it leads to the truth coming out about all of the crimes this regime has committted.

[gristy]

53. I took your list and turned it into a letter for Senator Mark Dayton of MN

Sept 13, 2003

Senator Mark Dayton
346 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510


Dear Senator Dayton,

Please, in the name of justice, won't you go on the floor of the Senate and make these simple 10 demands? Why is there such a complicit silence on the part of most Democrats in the Senate? We cannot be heard if you don't speak! Give Dennis Kucinich a call and talk to him. He knows how to do this and I'm sure he will give you great encouragement. These 10 points could easily be covered in a 5 minute speech, though in 10 minutes you could provide better elaboration. You're not going to get all 10, at least not right off. But you can be sure you would be on every news program that night with the banner

"In an unprecedented speech from the floor of the senate today, Senator Mark Dayton of Minnesota outlined a set of forthright challenges against the Bush administration related to alleged coverups, shady business dealings, trillions of unaccounted tax dollars, questionable war spending, huge budget deficits, and other charges."

Senator Dayton, please do not let fear dissuade you from your voter-given responsibility!

1. Release to the public of all of the 9/11 investigation findings and materials.

2. Release of all of the meeting notes and records from Cheney's energy group meetings.

3. Release of any and all documents pertaining to the phony intelligence used by the administration to justify their invasion of Iraq, including NSC and CIA documents.

4. To immediately pull the Iraq contacts of Halliburton and Bechtel, and mount a full review on the awarding of those contracts.

5. To call for a full scale investigation on the influence of PNAC and Likud neocon supporters on our nations foreign policy, and their relationships with this administration.

6. To repeal all of the tax cuts.

7. To deny Bush's recent request for $87 billion in Iraq funding, until a full accounting can be done of expenditures thus far made, and until the tax cuts are rescinded. In addition, a demand should be made for the Pentagon to account for the THREE TRILLION DOLLARS missing from their accounts, and to insist that the Pentagon will be given no further funding until those monies can be accounted for, and the results made public!

8. To demand immediate reinstitution of the "Fairness Doctrine", by executive order.

9. To immediately the repeal Patriot Act, on the grounds that it is unconstitutional, and that it has been abused by the Justice Department.

10. To demand a full-scale independent investigation into the relationship between the Bush administration, and Enron, to include the public release of any and all information on Ken Lay's ties to Mr. Bush, and all pending actions being considered by the Justice Department.

Yours Truly,

[MuseRider]

55. Good letter

Very nice. It should be sent to every Dem, every last one of them. Some of them actually have the guts to do something like this, not many but some of them.

[shance]

57. Gristy you ROCK****

Great letter!

Its long overdue to shut this puppy down.

[shance]

58. Would you mind if I/we use this letter to send to my reps and Senators?

Its a wonderful, concise letter that says it all. I couldnt have written it better myself** :)

Ultimately if every Democratic member of Congress got this letter it could do nothing but good. If anything it will plant yet another seed to let them know we are on this and watching them closely.
They apparently need to be monitored 24/7.

We should keep a tally of the members that we send letters too.

[gristy]

63. Of course you can use my letter (with Flying Pig's list, don't forget)

in any way you like. If you do write that letter, just post on this thread. That's the easiest way to keep track. Get your Senator's address(es) here.

[shance]

68. Thanks***

We should probably try to keep this thread kicked.

:)

[shance]

62. Flying Pig - you should fly right up there to Congress with this!!

This is fantastic!!***

So well thought out, cuts to the chase and says it all.

I am so impressed with many of you here at DU. Sure would be nice to have more individuals like you working in D.C. than many of our current residers***

Thanks so much. Lets get this out to all the Democratic legislators in D.C. I will send this to Feinstein, Boxer, and Berman, and to Pelosi. It would be great to hit some of the state offices as well. More the message gets out the more it plants a seed.

[Flying_Pig]

74. You got it Shance!!

:hi:

[Flying_Pig]

73. WOW!!! Excellent letter. I am going to copy it, and send it to ...

everyone I can, and every Dem member of Congress. If all of us did this, it might get some attention. Thanks so much.....

:hi:

[Skidmore]

54. Couple a filibuster with a general worker/consumer strike and

see where it gets the repukes and their corporate sponsors. Wonder if we could return to a "buy American only" movement easily.

[Flying_Pig]

77. If only.....

It might be harder to get most Americans out of their easy chairs, than to persuade members of Congress to adopt these tactics. Mr. & Mrs. America, are STILL too comfortable, and unless they really experience some pain (which might come, if our eeconomy keeps heading for depression), they will not march, or participate in a general strike. Our best hope, is that some of the percolating scandals explode, that finally gets them off their asses.

But of course, this is why Bush is pushing the PatRIOT Acts I & II. I have a feeling, they know they are going to push this nation to the ground, and that the people will finally rise up. This is why they want those laws, and why there are internment/concentration camps being set up right now, to receive the coming protestors. These bastards are the biggest, and most sophisticated group of fascists that has ever existed, and in my opinon, far surpass the Nazis. It's just a matter of time, before they start mass killings and arrests, .....unless they are stopped.

[rucky]

61. Even Better: They Should Flee To Albuquerque

[shance]

64. One more thing...

I will send it out if you are not planning to fax blast this. ***

[Zhade]

66. Rock ON.

We can call the document "The Ten Demandments".

[gristy]

67. "The Ten Demandments"

That's pretty funny. But don't put it in you're letter. 'Cause we gotta be serious about this!

[shance]

69. You guys are on fire today****

I like that Zhade "The Ten Demandments"

I see a script happening....and I dont see Charlton Heston anywhere near it.....

[zbdent]

70. Actually, not a bad idea - Rush thought it was in 98.

His statement was that the economy got along fine, in fact, better, when Congress was tied up in doing nothing (well, except trying to indict Clinton).

Mind you, he didn't remind his empty-headers that the Congress which wasn't doing (and therefore fixing the economy) was controlled in BOTH the House and the Senate by REPUBLICANS!

So, yes, let's have Congress shut down, and use this as the specific reason!! Shut down the Republican Congress to help kick-start the economy! (Maybe even point out that afterward that "Once the Republicans stopped trying to safe the patient, the patient started doing better!!!")

[MuseRider]

71. Kick to the top

[Q]

76. There's one flaw in this great plan...

...if it calls for Dems working together. The problem remains: the party is divided...with many Dems in DC having jumped on the DLC bandwagon. Like Lieberman...their excuse for doing nothing about the Bush* cabal is that Americans are 'sick of partisanship' and scandals. They're actually working WITH Bush* to make sure his agenda stays on course.

- Have you ever wondered why the Dems haven't organized a protest against the Patriot Acts? Or the Homeland Security 'spoils' system? Or no-bid contracts to Friends of Bush*? Why the Enron and 9-11 investigations went nowhere?

- Your list of complaints are valid...but the chances of the right wing Dems joining with the party against Bush* are pretty slim. Although they won't come right out and say it...they're more on Bush's* side than the Democratic party.

[MoonRiver]

75. This is exactly what should be done, YESTERDAY!

If only our congressional Dems had the cajones to do it! But maybe, just maybe the outrages are reaching critical mass and they'll get enough e-mails, letters, etc. from we citizens that it will happen. I even think there might be more than a few Repubs who would join in, especially if the movement was led by Dems (giving them some political cover). :kick:

[NewJerseyDem]

78. That is about the worst idea I've ever heard

It would be terrible if that happened. You can't just shutdown the government.

First of all, not all legislation is bad. There is a lot more legislation than you probably hear about that should get passed and isn't that bad.

Also, what would happen if we did win back control of the government? Not that that would ever happen if we did this, but hypothetically if we did what do think the republicans would do. So, basically we would never get anything done at all, and we might as well not have a government, and that is what is called anarchy. Which is bad by the way.

The democrats would lose tons of seats in congress come 2004 and Bush would probably win reelection with almost every state. I don't think that you want that or do most people here want that but that is what would happen. We would rightfully be labeled obstructionists and no moderate would vote for democrats. It is important to understand that most people are not liberal.

Thankfully this will never happen and maybe we will take back control of congress soon. Oh yeah, the republicans would just change the rules of the senate and then all they would need is a majority.

It is completely impractical. Even if liberals attempted to do this in the Senate, it would never work. There would never be enough democrats to join in the filibuster. At least 9 democrats would join the republicans and then we would just look like idiots.

[Flying_Pig]

79. The point of doing this, is not to win back control of the ....

government. That's what free and fair elections are for. The point of this proposal, is:

1. To shut down all legislative activity, in an effort to call attention to, and expose, the crimes of this regime.

2. To prevent Dem complicity in the passing of legislation that furthers the aims and goals of this fascist administration.

3. To make an unprecedented effort to get the truth from this regime, regarding 9/11, the Iraq war, and Enron. As we have thus far gotten nothing but lies and stonewalling, the American people deserve more, ...the truth.

4. An effort to stop this regime in their tracks, so they cannot commit more crimes against the American people, and the rest of the world. Waiting for an election, provided there is one (and say, Bush does not declare Marshal Law or something), may make it too late. In addition, the amount of damage they can do between now and an election, could be staggering to the nation.

Are you willing to trust, given their track record thus far, that they will behave until an election? I'm not. Contrasted to your proposals, which simply maintain status quo, and the *hope* that the election will save the day, my proposal would insure the country could maintain until the election, with out falling deeper into the fascist abyss. Sorry, but I'd rather go with my plan, than a "pink tutu" plan that gives them the latitude to commit irreparable harm to this nation.

[NewJerseyDem]

80. Control of congress matters a lot

It should be about winning control of congress. That is what is important. We have a chance of taking control in the near future and we desperately need to pick up seats in congress so that we can push through democratic legislation. If we were to do this we would probably lose numerous senate seats and after 2004 who knows if a filibuster would even be possible. Your plan is very short sighted.

Also, it wouldn't work. Even if most of the democrats supported the filibuster the republicans would just eliminate the filibuster. Then, the filibuster option that can be used to prevent the worst judicial nominees and the worst pieces of legislation will be eliminated.

[MuseRider]

81. I think it just might

win us more seats. How many Democrats are there that think the staus quo is doing us any good? How much progress do they see us making? We are losing huge amounts of esteem by just going along. This is a different time and a different situation. This is to show the country exactly what has been going on, IN THEIR NAME. Some, the hard core Repubs will of course like it but many will be repulsed by it. If the country saw the Dems stand up and then saw the Repubs changing the rules to shut them down they would realize what these guys are up to. How many really know the details of the Texas Dems? The story was not covered very well or fairly in the press. How many really know what is behind the recall in California? How many know about Colorado? This would have to be covered. I would not normally advocate anything like this but we have to do something. Just wait until the UN takes over in Iraq if Bush* is forced that way. Just wait to see what happens when our troops are freed up. These guys have to be stopped and without a free press it will NOT happen.